Sunday, December 2, 2018

The Shadow: Historical Background 1929 - 1931

This past week I learned that the Dick Tracy comic strip was first published on October 4, 1931 - that's just 6 months after the first issue of The Shadow was published (April 1, 1931). As I thought about these two fictional crime fighters, I started digging into what was happening in the US at this time that made The Shadow and Dick Tracy so popular. In my opinion, part of their appeal and popularity can be attributed to real life crime stories that were ever present in the headlines. Maybe the American public had enough of gangsters and wanted to read about crime fighters putting an end to them and their nefarious ways.

In this article I wanted to put a spotlight on what was happening in the years from 1929 through 1931. I want to paint a background picture of what was going on when The Shadow pulp magazine began to be published in 1931. What newsworthy events captured the headlines and the attention of Americans in those years? Here are some of the events and facts!1929

Herbert Hoover is President, having beaten Alfred E. Smith in the election of 1928.

February 14, 1929: The St Valentine's Day Massacre happens in Chicago when 7 members of the Northside gang are gunned down by henchmen of mobster Al Capone.

October 29, 1929: The US stock market crashed and this marked the beginning of the Great Depression which lasted for 12 years. Both the US and Europe were impacted.

The Broadway Melody was the top money-making movie in 1929 and also won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

1930

The planet Pluto is discovered.

The Castellammarese War erupts in New York City to see who will control the Italian-American mafia

These are just a few of the events that happened between 1929 and 1931. Wow, what a time it was. I hope this brief article helps you frame a backdrop of the world that The Shadow magazine entered in 1931.

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The Shadow is a fan blog for entertainment and informational purposes only. All related characters are the copyright of their copyright holders and are used without permission. These characters are discussed under fair use, and no infringement is intended. All artwork is copyright by their respective intellectual property holders.